Therapeutic device



y 23, 9 w. GLENNAN 1,910,328

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed May 5, 192a INVEN R' %.J

J ATTORNEYS Patented May 23, 1933 PATENT OFFICE- GLENENAN, F NORJFOIMI,-VIRGINIA THERAPEUTIC Application filed- May -5, 1928. Serial No.275,411.-

This invention relates to therapeutic devices and has particularreference to devices used in the treatment of certain diseases,injuries, or for surgical purposes and the like, and which are adaptedto be applied to different parts of the body for the application oftemperatures thereto.

The device of this invention is concerned particularly with theapplication of cold to m the body and comprises an appliance which '20diseases, for the coagulation of blood during and after a surgicaloperation such as for removal of tonsils and the like. The applicationof a cold pack for this purpose has been done heretofore, but this coldpack 5 consists of a flexible rubber container which is filled withcrushed ice and is fastened to the throat of the patient suitable means.The full eflect of the refrigeration produced by the ice is nottransmitted to the patient because of the thermal non-conductivity ofrubber, nor is the cold applied in greatest effect "to the properlocalities because the'container collapses and the ice shifts as thepatient moves. Also, the sharp pieces of ice contained therein projectthrough the rubber and irritate the sensitive parts of the v "the line6'6 of Fig. 4';

throat ofthe patient and the containers frequently leak and areotherwise objectionable due to the nuisance of filling, cleaning, andotherwise preparing such rubber ice packs. Furthermore, such containersare not susceptible to the usual form of sterilization, i. e., by heat,because the rubber or other material from which they are madedeteriorates'when heated and soon brealrs and becomes useless.

In accordance with the invention, a receptacle suitably shaped to fitany portion of the body and containing a con-gea'lable' or otherwiserefrigerable material permanently and hermetically sealed therein isprovided,

so that there is neverrany need of emptying or replenishing thesame. Itis preferred that these receptacles be made of some suitable metalwhichis of a good thermal conductor such as a metal containing a largepercentage of copper, silver, or the like. Such containers may thus bereadily sterilized and kept clean at all times and in order torefrigerate the material therein, they are adapted to be placed in asuitable freezing mixture or in the crypt of a refrigerating machine orthe like. As many of these devices may be supplied as are necessary forapplication to some portion of the body, and as'thesedevi'ce's "losetheir refrigerating properties they may be replaced by another devicewhich has been previously treated for refrigerating purposes. Inasmuchas the refrigerating material in the receptacles is permanently sealedtherein, they cannot leak,

need never be refilled, may be readily steril ized andjare comfortablewhen worn by the patient because they may be provided with aerinanen'tly smooth finish and are shaped to t snuglyto any portion ofthe body.

For a better understanding or the invention, "reference is made to theaccompanying drawing, in which Figures I and 2 illustrate oneembodimentof the invention as it may be applied for treatment of thethroat;

Fig; 3 is a plan view of the device;

Fig; 4 is an exterior side view of one element thereof; I

Fig. '5 is an interior side View of the same;

Fig; 6 is a transverse section taken along Fig. '7 isa transversesection taken along line[77 of Fig. -5; and

ig. 8 illustrates the manner in which only 'oneelement ofthe device maybe used.

In this drawing, numeral 10 designates the two elements of oneparticular type of the device, each of which is made of metal in theform of a hollow receptacle which is shaped to fit thethroat of a personin the manner illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2. The 'shapingoff thereceptacles 10 includes such projections and indentations as will makethe device conform to the configuration of the throat or other portionof the body to which it may be adapted for application. The embodimentof the device illustrated is particularly adapted for the thermaltreatment of the throat and thyroid areas, and for this purpose it isnecessary that the sides of the throat be treated principally so thatthe receptacles 10 are made thicker at, that point as shown in Figs. 6and7, Fig. 7 showing especially how the receptacles 10 are shaped to fitinto the recess below; the ear of the patient, where treatment isparticularly necessary. Fig. 3 shows the general configuration of thedevice comprising two receptacles 10 as seen in plan, the thinnerportions being toward the front and rear of the throat, where little orno thermal application is necessary or desirable for the particularpurposes mentioned.

The receptacles 10 each are provided at their front edges with hingebarrels 11 adapted to mesh in the usual way for the receptacle of hingepin 12. This hinge pin is made removable and is shaped in the form ofaloop or ring for purposes to be hereinafter explained, Being hinged inthe front as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the device may be more readilyapplied to the throat inasmuch as the two receptacles 10 may be spreadapart about the hinge 11 when the device is being applied to the throatof the patient, so that the sensitive parts are not injured orirritated. The rear edges of receptacles 10 are alsoprovided with ringsor loops 1.3, which may be hinged 'asshown or rigid, through and betweenwhich a securing band 14 may be passed for securing the device aboutthe'throat of the patient. Inasmuch as it is frequently desirable toallow the patient to sit up or repose in a semireclining position duringconvalescence,

. loops or rings 15'are provided on the top surfaces of receptacleslOthrough and between which a second band 16 may be inserted so asto passover the top ofthe head of the patient as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, inorder to keep the device from slipping and in the proper position.However, when, the patient is in a reclining position, band 14 willusually be sufficient. Although bands 14 and 16 may be made of anysuitable material of a permanent nature ormay be permanently secured torings 13 and 15, neverthcless, for purposes of sanitation, it has beenfound more desirable to fashion bands '14 and 16 of material which'inaybe destroyed after being used, such as. gauze bandage or the like. Suchan arrangement is preferable becausethe device is sterilized after beingused and it is difficult to keep bands of rubber, fabric, or leatherclean and sterile. v

If only one side of the throat is to be thermally treated, hinge pin 12,which connects Y the two receptacles 10, 1S removed and re:

pecially after the removal of tonsils.

placed in the hinge barrels 11 of either one of the two receptaclesafter they have been separated. It will be seen that hinge pin 12 alsoforms a ring or loop through which a band 17 may be passed around thethroat of the patient and secured in opposite ring 13, as shown in Fig.8. In order to keep the receptacle from slipping, another band 18 may bepassed over the head of the patient and secured at one end to loop 15and at the other, end to band 17 by tying or in any other suitable way.

In order to secure the therapeutic effects desired, containers 10 arenearly filled with a suitable thermo responsive material 19, which maybe congealed or otherwise refrigerated. An example of such material ispure water, which is initially introduced through apertures 20 formed atany convenient point in the surface of receptacles 10, and afterof thereceptacle, this cap being pressed,-

sprung, soldered or otherwise permanently fastened in place within itsdepression. The water or other refrigerable material is thus permanentlysealed within containers 10 and v cannotspill out, nor can thecontainers leak.-

In order to refrigerate the water or other material contained inreceptacles 10, the entire device may be placed in some freezing mixtureor in the crypt of a refrigerating machine or the like, untilthe wateris frozen-- or sufficiently cooled. Although the Water expands uponbeing frozen, the vacuum space above the water within the receptacleallows for this expansion so that the receptacles are not ruptured orotherwise injured .during the freezing process. hen the devices are thussuitably refrigerated, they may be applied directly to the throat of apatient and these devices have demonstrated I their effectiveness,especially in surgical op erations on the throat, where the applicationof cold coagulates the blood and prevents V r the hemorrhages whichfrequently occur, es-

The refrigerating: effect of the device lasts for several hours, andWhen it has been dissipated, the device is replaced by another devicewhich has been refrigerated in the manner described. After being used onthe patient, the bands 14, 16, 17 and 18 are removed if removable, andthe entire devices sterilized by placing in a suitable sterilizingmedium such as boiling water or the like, after which they are ready tobe refrigerated and used again. I

While the invention has been described as a preferred embodimentconsisting of a device to be applied to the throat, it is to beunderstood that the device may be shaped to fit any other portion of thebody, where the therapeutic effects produced by cold are desired, suchas in the treatment of hemorrhoids, bleeding at the nose, treatment oforal and other cavities and the like, in which case the devices areshaped to fit these particular parts of the body. Furthermore, while thepreferred embodiment of the invention has been described as containingwater hermetically sealed therein as the refrigerating or congealablemedium, it is to be understood that any other substance, whethercongealable at ordinary freezing temperatures or not, or otherwiserefrigerable, may be used with equal effect, and that, while theapplication of cold has been particularly described, the devices maycontain heated material for the application of heat in the same way. Thenew therapeutic device of this invention is accordingly very effectiveand meets all the requirements incident to therapeutic treatment. Itprovides additional advantages, however, among which are that it issanitary and may be kept so, never leaks, need never be emptied orrefilled, is comfortable when applied to any part of the body, isdurable and may be re-used an innumerable number of times withunchanging therapeutic effect.

I claim:

1. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment of the throat, thecombination of a plurality of receptacles hinged together so as toencircle the throat, said receptacles being enlarged for engagement withthe sides of the throat, a refrigerable material permanently sealed inthe receptacles, and means for securing the device in position on thethroat.

2. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment of the throat, thecombination of a pair of receptacles hinged together, said receptaclesbeing curved to fit snugly around the throat and having enlargedportions adapted to engage the side of the throat beneath the ear, ringsformed at the top and free ends of the receptacles for receiving bandsto secure the device to the throat, and a refrigerable materialpermanently sealed in the receptacles.

3. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment, the combination of arigid container shaped to closely fit the configuration of a portion ofthe body to be treated, said container having an enlarged portioncorresponding to the point where more intense thermal treatment isrequired on said portion of the body, and a temperature responsivematerial permanently sealed in said container being adapted to betreated thermally before application to said portion of the body.

4. A hygienic Water bottle, comprising a plurality of sections, saidsections being tapered at one end and formed arcuate in shape forengagement with the body, and means detachably and hingedly connectingsaid sections, said sections when separated being adapted for individualuse.

5. A hygienic water bottle comprising a plurality of arcuate sectionseach section being tapered at one end, formed arcuate in shape andadapted to surround a portion of the body, said sections being hollow,and means detachably and hingedly connecting the sections together forrelative movement.

6. A hygienic water bottle comprising a pair of detachable bottlesections, hinge leaves carried by the sections, and a pintle detachablyconnecting said hinge leaves.

7. A hygienic water bottle comprising a pair of arcuate bottle sections,said sections being cut away at one corner for the purpose specified,and means detachably and hingedly connecting the sections together forrelative movement.

8. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment, the combination of arigid container shaped to fit closely to the configuration of a portionof the body to be treated, and means on said container for holding thecontainer in place ,on the body comprising a hinge leaf mounted upon thecontainer and a hinge pin passing through said hinge leaf and having anend thereof shaped to engage said hinge leaf to retain said hinge pin inposition in said leaf and forming a loop through which said containermay be attached to the body.

9. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment, the combinatiom of apair of rigid containers shaped to closely fit the configuration of aportion of the body to be treated, each of said containers having ahinge leaf mounted thereon, a hinge pin joining said hinge leaves, ringssecured to the ends of said containers opposite said pin, and means forconnecting said rings to hold said containers in place upon the body.

10. In a therapeutic device for thermal treatment, the combination of apair of rigid containers shaped to closely fit the configuration of aportion of the body to be treated, each of said containers having ahinge leaf mounted thereon, a hinge pin joining said hinge leaves, ringssecured to the ends of said containers opposite said pin, means forconnecting said rings to hold said containers in place upon the body,and other rings secured upon the sides of said containers for receivinga band which assists in supporting the container.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM S. GLENNAN.

